Machine for gathering cotton.



W. W. EDGE & K. F. CAMPBELL.

MACHINE FOR GATHERING COTTON.

APPLIOATIGH FILED MAY 19, 1909.

954,382. Pa nted M115, 1910.

BMH'IIIIIIIIIHHE llllllHi WIT/ E8853 INVENTORY m'lllkun W E e I M g s/ all M 0 nromvzys W. W. EDGE & K. P. CAMPBELL.

MACHINE FOR GATHERING COTTON.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1909.

954,382, Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z,

WITIIE888 INVENTORJ' fillb anzj m M zone 62a, all

a? g 2 M r p c m "T080578 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- WILLIAM WARREN EDoE' AND KNo'rLEY ronzo C'AMlBELL, 0F JUD, TEXAS.

. MACHINE FOR GATHERING COTTON.

speclfieation of Letters Patent.- 1 ratelltfidiint 5; 1910.

\ Application tiled May 19, 1909- Berlfl-l N0. (97,043

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM WARREN EDGE and Kxorrm' Foxzo Currnnu both citizens of the United States, and residents of J ad, in the county, of Haskell and State of Texas, have invented a new and Im roved Machine for Gathering Cotton, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip- (ion;

The purpose of our invention is to proride novel features of construction for a cotton gathering machine, which enable the removal of cotton burs containing ripe cotton from the plants, directly into a reccptaclc as the machine is moved alon rows of cotton plants in a field where they have grown.

The invention consists in the novel eonst-ruction and combination of arts, as is hereinafter described and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the aecmnpanying drawings forming a part of this specili cation, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the ylews.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the complete machine; Fig. 2 is a side view of thesame;

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged partly sectional front new of novel details. taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Fig. 4; Fig.4 is a longitudinal sectional View, substantially on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is n fragmentary sectional view; showing the parts re resented in Fig. 4, somewhat changed in a justment. 4

1n the drawings, means for supporting and progressively moving the operative details of the cotton gathcier are shown, consisting essentiall of a wheeled wagon that embodies two ax es, wheels thereon, bolsters and an elongated reach bar that connects the axles.

As shown, 5 indicates :1 preferably wooden front axle having stub spindles 59 secured thereon; (i asuhstantially similar rear axle; 7, 8, similar traction wheels that in "pairs are rotatably mounted upon the front and rear axles; 5" and 0" bolster blocks that are secured u on the upper idea of the axles respective y; and 9 a reach pole or bar of considerable length. The reach her 9 istpivoted at its front end on the bolster block: 5", as appears at a in Fig. 1, and the rear end. thereof is pivoted to the bolster block 6- by. the king pelt b..

F rom. the endsof the h'ont'exle 5 two s ml erarms are downwardly extended, and u on the lower ends of said arms, the en 9 a head-bar 11 ere-scoured, thus supportmg the latter below and parallel withthe front axle 5 the arms being each formed-of two engaged links 10, 10. Two series of evenly-spaced tines 12 are mounted upon the heard her 11, these two equal groups of tines beiu equally spaced from the centerof the hen bar as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The tines 12 are mainl of an equal length and all are pointed at t ieir free ends, they being formed of flat barsof suitable Inetal, preferably undulated edgewise, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The outs de tines 12* of-oaoh series are Somewhat longer then those. between them. The tines. are all arranged. in the same horizontal plane, and are preferably secured in spaced transverse slots formed in the upper edge of the head bar 11. Each series of times 12 is secured rigidly in place on the head bar b means oi a strap iron bar 13 that. is secure .olver the-rear ends of thetimes by bolts 0 that'olamp the bars 13 upon the head bar'll, as shown in the drawin s. Below the tines 12, on the front side .ofit 0 head bar 11', a kee or. bar 1,1 is secured, which bears. upon to lower edges of the tines and aids in their rigid support.-

Referring to the'arins that ser-ve as hangers for the head bar. 11, it will-be noted that the link member 10 for each ban or arm projects up from the head bar, w ile the complementary link member 10 depends from the lower side of the front axle, and theselink members have a: loose engagement. with each other.' I r U on the front side of the axle 5, two

ui e brackets 15 are secured these similar Eraeketseach haying rectangular loop shape, and as shown in F1 4s and. 5, the vertical member of each gui e bracket is s aced from and disposed-pari llel with the a e 5.

Twoearrier frames are-prtwided, each one" no. transverse sheit 17,.that"i's jour- U ml white; ends in the boxes 0, tmmsimilim' located above and near rollers 18 are secured, that are respctively to a series of the tines 1, the len h of the 12i and as shown in F ig. b th ie a ove a e tines ro lers adapts them to in a series.

On the front side of the axle 5, a rock shaft 19 is rockably supported by boxes g, and at each end thereof a short rock arm 20 rojects forwardly. Upon the outer en of each rock arm 20, the u per end of a connectingrod 21 is pivoted as shown at h in Figs. 4 and 5, said rods having an equal length. The lower ends of the connecting rods 21 respectively lap upon the lower ortions of the members 16 of a'corresfltin ing carrier frame and are thereon pivoled, as shown at I: in Figs. 4 and 5t vUpon on'& extended end of the roller-supporting shaft 17, a small sprocket ear n is mounted, and opposite said gear a argcr s rocket gear n is secured on the hub of an a jaccnt traction wheel 7, said gears being connected by an endless chain. 0, whereby the progressive movement of the machine will effect a rotution of the rollers 18 in a direction toward the head bnr 11, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4.

.An upright lever 22 is pivoted ona stand 23 that is scaled upon me reach bar 9 near its forward end, said stand supporting a sector of wcll-kuown form that controls the rocking movement of the lever 22'. From the center of the-shaft 19, an arm 24.- projects upward] and to the end of the'said arm is pivots one end of a link 25, whose other end is pivoted to the lever 22. It will be seen that upon rocking the lever22 rearwardly,' thehead bar 11 and tines 12 will; be raised fronrtheir normal position and the rollers 18 also. I

A wheeled receptacle 2G is a detail of the invention, and as-shownrconsists of a rcctangular body portion mounted upon an axle Bithat is secured transversely'on the body near its rear end, and on. said axle two wheels 28 are rotatably mounted. The forward end of the recc tacle 26 is open, and as shown, is connected with the head bar 11 by a bracket arm 1' or the like. The height of the wheels 28 and width ofthe bod 26, is such that the body may be positione below the reach bar 9, and have ample'clearance'latrally from the front wheels 7, so that the open front-end of the body will be positioned near the head bar.

On the reach bar-9, ates. suitable oint, a seat 29 is mounted, preferably'near t 0 rear end of the body 26 ofthelwheeled receptacle, so that the occupant may rest his feet on therear end wallof said body. In front of and near the seatt29, ashaft 30 is rotatably su ported on the reach bar 9, and on said shall: a s rocket gear m is mounted and secured neartl ie reach bar. .On the sprocket gear m, a chain 31 has engagementnear its as center, and thence its equa portions are extended toward the res ment of the lever 32 will be stripped from thestalks .are removed from the stalks,

, that ctive ends of the front axle 5, with whic they are connected biy links. On the upper end of the vertical 5 aft 30, a hand wheel 30" afiixed, and it will be seen that one occuplymg the seat 29 may by manipulation of t e hand wheel, control the gressive movement given to the forward end of the machine.

To the bolster block 6,onopposite sides of the reach but), links 9' are pivoted and the forward ends of the said links ar pivoted to thelvcr 32, fulcrumed on the king bolt b; It will be seen that the lateral rocking moveswing the rear axle 6, {S the links, b their pivotal connection wit 'the bolster block 6" and the lever 32, transmit. the rockin movement of said lever to the rear 'axle. pon the reach bar 9, forward of-the braces or link plates '9, a doubletree 33 is pivoted that is rovided with two'swingletrees 34, thus a ording means forconnecting a pair of draft animals with the reach bar at each side thereof. It will be noted that the driver of the team also direction of pro-.

is mounted and manually controls the travel of the rear wheels 8, so as to conform with the-direction of movement given to the front wheels 7, this obviously beingiefi'ected bythe mani%lation of the lever .32.

wopera'ting the machine, the entire appara'tusismoved along over two adjacent rows of cotton plants, and the tines 12 that are-disposed at the sides of the series of tines 12 guide the lateral branches of the plants into the path of the tines 1244,, The cottonz-helddn the burs rowin on the stalks, will remain in said burs, w rich will by the tines 12 and slide rearward on. their upper sides beneath'the rollers 18,;which latter will aid removal of the burs. If the-plants in the vary" in height, the tinesuna be variedsomfwhat to catch the upper imbs of the stalks, this elevation of the tines and rollers being efl'ectedb a pro er adju'stmentof the lever. 22. It wi l he understood that the cotton bars will be crowded rearward as they and pass into the li heeled receptacle 26 from which they may be re'm'oved when this is desired. As before explained, themachine may be guided by manipulation of the hand wheel 30 and rear lever 32' 'Iha team of draft animals are positioned rearward of the receptacle 26 to revent being done to the plants 'l -iave not 11 operated upon by the machine. 2 Having thus described our lDVBIItlOD,'WB claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A cotton 'atherer, embodying a. progressiv'ely-mova 1e vehicle, a head bar vertically ad ustable on the iron rtion of-tha veh1cle, ;two series o-speced t nes projected,

forwardly from the head bar, a transverse shaft rotatably supported above'and near traction wheels on the axles, a head bar hung from the front axle, two series of spaced tines forwardly extended from the head bar means for swin ing the head bar, a transverse shaft rotatabfy supported above the tines, two spaced rollers on the shaft, and sprocket gearing connecting the shaft with the hub of a forward traction wheel.

In a cotton gatherer, the combination with a progressivelv rnovable vehicle, comprising an e on ated reach bar, a front axle, a rear axle, an traction wheels on the axles, a head bar carried by the front axle spaced tines extended forwardly from the head bar, rollers rotatable above the tines, and a Wheeled receptacle arranged below the reach bar and between the front and rear axles and having its front end connected with the head bar, said receptacle being adapted for directly receiving cotton gathered by the tines and pressed rearward b the rollers.

4. In a cotton gatherer of the character described, the progressivelyanovable vehicle, comprisin an elongated reach bar, a rear axle, two link plates pivotally mounted upon the rear axle, a front axle pivoted on the front portion of the reach bar, traction wheels on the axles, a head bar hung from the front axle, spaced tines projected for \vardly from the head bar, means for manually controlling lhc turning movement of the front axle, and a lever pivolally mount-- ed upon the rear axle and pivoted to the link plates for manually-controlling the turning movement of the rear axle by a lateral movement of the lever.

In a cotton gatherer of the character described, the progressively-ulovable vehicle, embodying an elongated reach bar, a pivoted rear axle, a pivoted front axle, wheels on said axles, gathering tines extended forwardly from the front axle, and a doubletrce and swingletrees mounted upon the reach bar between the front and rear axles, and means for independentl controlling the lateral turning movement 0 the axles.

6. In a cotton gatherer of the character described, the combination with a progress ively-movable vehicle, embodying an elongated reach bar, a front axle lvoted on the.

search bar, a rear axle, link p ates pivotally mounted upon the rear axle, a lever pivotally mounted upon the rear axle and pivhtcd to the link plates, and traction wheels on the ends of the axles, of a plurality of gathering tines supported below and projected for Ward from the front axle, a seat on the reach bar between the axles, a. rotatable upright shaft on the reach bar forward of the seat, a hand wheel thereon a sprocket wheel on the shal hachain mounted upon the sprocket wheel, and connections extended forwardly from the chain and respectively attached at their forward ends on the front axle near the traction wheels.

7. In a cotton gatherer of the character described, a progressively movable vehicle, embodying an elon ated reach bar, a front axle pivoted on the forward end of the reach bar, a rear axle transversely pivoted on the rear portion of the reach bar, gathering tines on the front axle, means for manually controlling the lateral turning movement of the front axle, and independent means for manually controlling the lateral turning movement of the rearaxle.

8. In a cotton gatherer, the combination with a wheeled vehicle, of a head bar suspended from the front axle of the vehicle, forwardly projecting tines secured to the head bar, a rock shaft having arms at its ends, links connecting the arms with the head bar, and a means for operating the rock shaft.

i). in a cotton gatherer, the combination with a wheeled vehicle, of a head bar susended from the front axle of the vehicle, forwardly projecting tines secured to the head bar, carrier frames above the tines, each frame having diverging members, one of which is pivoially connected with the head bar and the other loosely connected with the front axle, a roller mounted in the frames, and means for swinging the head bar.

16. in a cotton gnthcrer, the comhimition with a wheeled vehicle. of a head bar, links having a loose engagement with each other for sus ending the head bar from the front axle o the vehicle, two sets of forwardly PI'OJBCUDg imes secured to the head bar,

guide brackets secured to the front axle, carrier frames above the tines, each frame having diverging members, one of which is pivotally connected with the head bar and the other having a sliding engagement with the said brackets, a shaft mounted in the frames, two rollers on the shaft, :1 rock shaft on the front axle and having arms at its ends, links connecting the arms with the head bar, and means for operating the rock shaft.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

WILLIAM \VARREN EDGE. KNOTLIJY FONZO UAM PUIQIJL. \l'il ncsscs:

.\. l). Comm'rnnns, 5. T. MILLER. 

